Britain's Oldest Trains FINALLY Retire

The London Underground 1938 Tube Stock have operated services on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Northern Lines for fifty years before being converted to Class 483 EMUs for use on the Isle of Wight's Island Line for another thirty years.
This video shows the last days of them operating these services before being replaced by the London Underground D78 Stock Trains which have been converted into the Class 484 EMUs.

[@robzsoton]

Its amazing that a train that old held its own for all its time

[@xr6lad]

That’s the problem. They didn’t. People need to stop romanticizing these. They were run in to the ground, unreliable, had a bad suspension. The franchise took advantage of the lack of competition and delayed by over a decade that these should have been retired.

[@chrisdstard5644]

They were built to last, unlike the crap made today.

[@ianmcclavin]

@@youtubekilledtrustedflaggi9274 Yes they singled the route at Brading back in 1989 just before the 1938 Stock replaced their older counterparts. The intention was to run a 20 minute service (loops at Sandown and Ryde St John's were in the right places for this). However more trains than anticipated started "dying" on them early, which resulted in insufficient units being available to run a service every 20 minutes, hence the 20/40 minute headway which evolved...providing an even 30 minute service would have involved reinstating the passing loop at Brading, which is now being done..!!

[@chrisdstard5644]

Another icon goes the way of the Routemaster bus.

[@skyediann3399]

It's unfortunate, but 83 year old rolling stock with no supply of spare parts isn't going to last forever.

[@AtheistOrphan]

20:19 - The friendly Brading station cat makes a repeat appearance! 🐈

[@scottgallagher4792]

I thought for a minute it was going to hop on the train and the guard stopped it, perhaps it's well known to the staff!!.

[@EonityLuna]

I wonder if there are more videos of that cat; would love to see recordings of its antics.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

It’s with great sadness that these 1938 stock 483s are retiring after 31 years on the isle of wright

[@BigBadJohn5358]

There's a four-car set of 1938 stock kept at Acton works so they must have to manufacture parts for that unit if it fails.

[@freeman8128]

I remember these on the Northern line before they went to the Isle of Wight. 82 years in daily public service must be a train record.

[@michaelricks1618]

Great filming by day & night! (Most unusual & enjoyable - thank you.) The last time I saw Ryde St. John's Rd station by night was in about 1956, when coming back from a school trip to the mainland. We made a late evening ferry trip from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head and then onward by train to Cowes. Wonderful carefree times! Thanks so much for sharing your great video.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked the video!

[@martinpattison4018]

I am glad that one of them is going to the Epping-Ongar Line. I have not been there for nearly 40 years, but I remember it very well. Martin. (Thailand)

[@ianmcclavin]

They're actually taking two of the 2-car units now at Epping - Ongar, 006 and 008. 007's staying on the island, and moving to the Steam Railway at Havenstreet.

[@richardyardley5127]

I salute these wonderful enigmatic trains for their epically long service and shed a tear too. Really pleased a couple of them will be preserved.

[@jf840fourtheloveoftransport]

thank you for sharing the tribute to the class 483 with us

[@AlexMetroman]

No problem! I'm glad you liked it.

[@madtrainspottermacrae6744]

They will be missed indeed

[@daveharrington2553]

I used to repair the brakes bloody great things, a nightmare to work on

[@casual_boredom7195]

I suppose you won't miss the grease down under those cars then?

[@daveharrington2553]

I used to work at the r.e.w works in acton, the brakes and other parts were stripped in the depots and sent to us, Google r.e.w. acton

[@AlexMetroman]

I've been in Acton REW a few times. You work at a very interesting depot.

[@nirgunapa56]

Damn! I was going to have a holiday on the Isle of Wight to have a ride on them. Knackered by this coronavirus outbreak and now snatched away. Another tick missing on the bucket list.

[@philipbonner6486]

Brilliant video love the camera angles of the old trains, take care and be safe.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thanks, you too!

[@SteamboatWilley]

These have the cutest whistle.

[@bobsage6312]

Superb video thanks. Watched the very last service on Railcam. Especially liked the rock'n'roll between Sandown and Lake!

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you!

[@stuarthall6631]

Rather an emotional moment at 23:17 tonight watching the very last one leaving Esplanade caught on Railcam. Funny to think that these joined London Transport before the RT buses!

[@Mariazellerbahn]

They still look modern to me. A shame they couldn't be mechanically gutted and rebuilt.

[@casual_boredom7195]

@@Mariazellerbahn At least they can be saved by museums a heritage railways.

[@si002]

I can just imagine "Julia's Theme" playing! End of an era. Hope to see one in preservation sometime. Been on them many times when down on holiday. Went down to the Island one day last December to ride on them for the last time. Unfortunately they weren't running, they hoped to get them going later in the day but sadly not.

[@raye402]

Thanks. For the quality stream - I remember riding them on the Bakerioo line. From Lambeth North through 50s & 60s they were for me simply “ the tube “ 80 yrs +. Just solid engineering !! 👍1

[@AlexMetroman]

No problem! I'm glad you liked the video.

[@ianmcclavin]

Yes I can remember when both the Bakerloo and the Northern Lines had a full run out of 1938 Stock. The East London Line (Shoreditch/Whitechapel to New Cross / Gate) also had them until 1977, and the Piccadilly had one or two of them as well.

[@Pullisto]

Great footage, we are all indebted to people like you going out and doing some great quality videography so the legend stays alive with these little trains that had their own personality. What a sad time to see the last one away on railcam from 12,000 miles away in New Zealand, not just that it was mid winter, but covid forcing people away from giving them a decent farewell that these octogenarians fully deserved, a real sense of desolation. That was a few tears in my eyes as I played Now is the Hour by Vera Lynn, such music a real time spanner to help the perspective of their long service, I was a yearly visitor to the Isle of Wight in summer till 2020, and always liked to take a trip on one, marveling and enjoying that they were not a museum piece but full service. It will not be the same with these icons gone, but by the sound of it, no option with their reliability dropping. I imagined there's not much than can go wrong with well built machines like this. Anyway, when or if the covid mess is over, I shall look forward to seeing the one on display at the Isle of Wight Stem Railway. I hope the third machine will be saved, it would make an excellent themed restaurant (as was done with a retired EMU built by EE that worked here for 60 years. Loved the cat that wanted to catch a ride at Brading. Cheers from Dunedin, New Zealand.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Unfortunately, everything has it's time and the fact that they lasted over eighty years is a true testament to their build quality.

[@bobhowison5714]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@geoffreyhampson3993]

Very wll done. An excellent and informative tribute. In my imagination I see a few class 142's running in a Welsh valley until 2070.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! The 142s have been allowed to continue until the May timetable change (I think!) so once the Covid-19 restrictions are eased enough I'll head over there.

[@terryfricker9642]

Enjoyed that. Off to play IOW on Train Sim World 2 now. Thanks.

[@skyediann3399]

Class 484: *Enters Service* Class 483: *Sad compressor noises*

[@jacksugden8190]

Last time I went to the island was in the 1970’s, I ride Standard Stock trains, hadn’t been back since, I remember the stock on the Northern line, surprised at how long the 38’s lasted in Hampshire.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

11:42 The Wibbley Wobbley Way.

[@GNTel313]

A fantastic ride, on a fantastic line, on fantastic traction. RIP 38 stock/class 483. You will be sadly missed 🙁🙁

[@ianm5814]

Fantastic video :)

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you!

[@DANI-ht5uf]

Great video I love this train. I hoped one day I could see it 'cause I'm from Spain. I could only saw it trough a railcam.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! I'm glad you at least got to see it via Railcam.

[@owenchuarbx]

Incredible for a late 30s train to survive that long working hard. An incredible testament of how incredible opportunital situations in the fleets' lifetime help cement its place as possibly one of the longest serving and most enduring EMU trains in railway history. Hopefully, the D78 Stock will also one day able to achieve an incredible lifespan like the 1938 Tube Stock, be it the Class 230 or the Class 484

[@wharris302]

The 1938ts lifespan wasn't really by choice, there was literally no replacements available until very recently, with the D trains. Still it's amazing that they've lasted this long but at the age they are at they break quite frequently and a replacement was desperately needed

[@LewisCollard]

Great video! As sad as it is to see these go from those of us watching from afar, and as much as I didn't want the various restrictions giving me a disincentive to seeing them one last time (they deserved a HUGE send-off)...these trains weren't kept around for nostalgia value. They were kept running because it was cheaper to keep them running within an inch of their ninth lives than it was to replace them, and that was true of the Standard Stock they replaced 30+ years ago, and is just as true of the tracks they run on (I've seen videos referring to the "bounciness" of the ride...well, when you look at the state of the track in this video, which pictures it better than any I have seen, that's hardly surprising!). It's good to know that the Island Line is going to see some real investment, and even better to know that one of these units is (so I gather) going to find a good home too. Thanks for an excellent vid!

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I agree with you, it comes down to money and if it is worth investing in.

[@philipwright5350]

I used to ride on these trains every time I went on holiday to the Isle of Wight up to 1990. I remember the last year of the steam trains on the Island too. Interesting at 12:20 how close the foot crossing is to the conductor rail. People, especially kids, must be at some risk at that crossing especially if they don’t realize the danger. Great Video.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! There is a gap in the conductor rail that allows people to cross the railway safely. If the children have been brought up to respect the dangers of the railway and if they are too young then they are with a responsible adult, it should be fine. There aren't many incidents if any at crossings to do with conductor rails, more of people not looking and crossing in front of trains.

[@MangoMouse1604]

I would guess it is due to the very short length of the Class 483

[@williamjenkins9563]

This is a good video you made here

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you!

[@QuarioQuario54321]

RIP 1938 stock C. 1938-January 4, 2021 It wasn’t even old enough to auto qualify for dial-a-ride based on age.

[@theovanstaden5766]

very Good video Alex!!

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you!

[@powpunkonwhiskey6377]

I'm going to miss bouncing around from Ryde to Shanklin on these trains.

[@marktaylor865]

Im not. Had the cheek to charge money for the privlege of being thrown around.

[@AlexMetroman]

At the end of the day, the contract you enter into the Train Operating Company is that you pay to get from A to B. They are not contractually obliged to provide you with a train, or a seat, or a quality of smooth ride. They could give you a horse and cart that would throw you around on the road and still fulfil their contractual obligation. After reading some other of your comments in addition to this, I'm sure you're going to welcome the upgrade with open arms.

[@marktaylor865]

@@AlexMetroman this comment smacks of pseudo intellectualism. When i arrive at a train station i expect a train to arrive in short order and carefully and safely deliver me and my cargo to whichever stop along that line i need to visit in as close to absolute comfort as is achievable. We islanders have been subject to the "death train" for decades to satisfy the nostalgia of a minority of avid train enthusiasts. I did not appreciate it. It remains to be seen what kind of improvement the new fleet will bring. Maybe it'll be a viable method of travel like everywhere else in the world.

[@powpunkonwhiskey6377]

Ahh the bouncing was part of the charm! It's not just the seats that caused the bouncing, the track is need of realining in large areas.

[@AlexMetroman]

I think you'll find that I have an in depth knowledge on how the National Rail network operates given that I've worked on it for the best part of nine years, your comment smacks of self-importance and ignorance. To state that you expect the train to arrive in short order is unrealistic as that depends on the time you arrive to the station. The train should be expected to arrive at the time it is scheduled to do so, realistically within a few minutes either side of it. When you enter into a contract with a TOC, absolute comfort is not part of that contract, nor is it part of what SWR pledge to their passengers. Every single person on this planet will have a different expectation of absolute comfort. We can agree that the Island Line should have had a new fleet of trains and upgrades undertaken to the permanent way and infrastructure many years sooner than now, but as I stated earlier, you're not even entitled to a train in such a contract, just a method to get from A to B. You knew what you entered into and you chose to do so which means that the decision is entirely on you.

[@superref63]

excellent video

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you!

[@Hardtransport]

Great video, i like the text's telling the "story" behind this trains, and it's amazing to thinking that was the most oldest trains in the world operating frequently, i don't know if any country in the world is operating with some old rolling stock that was isn't a Special or Touristic Service

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! Now you mention it, I can't think of anywhere else in the world that regularly operated such old trains.

[@stuarthall6631]

Thank you. By far the best documentary I have seen upon these units. I know this definitely won't happen but what would one give for a ride around some of the former Southern Region lines upon one of these once repatriated to the mainland?! After all, they are (as far as I know) compatible.

[@AlexMetroman]

There are a lot of farewell videos on KZbin so I appreciate you saying that! Unfortunately these trains can't run on the mainline on the mainland as they are not fitted with AWS/TPWS and various other safety systems.

[@stuarthall6631]

@@AlexMetroman Thank you for your kind response. Actually, this was just a fantasy! At least there are two locations where a battery-powered ride may be possible in future. This is not such a pipe dream as it was (until current situation) possible to ride upon a Southern CEP unit hauled by a battery-powered M.L.V. up in Cumbria!

[@Mog435]

Lovely old stock

[@Требучет]

Крутые старички :) . Спасибо за чудесное видео.

[@AlexMetroman]

Спасибо. Рад, что тебе понравилось мое видео!

[@Viper-CT]

They will be greatly missed by all of us! :( ive never been to the isle of wight so this is a heartbrake for me! :(

[@charliechaz1982]

What a brilliantly shot video. It's sad these are going. But as someone who lives right near the district line and one of it's depots the D78's will be a decent replacement and still hold that old school character and similar sounding motors. The D78's were the most reliable tube ever until they were retired only in 2017. They should be able to run efficiently for many years to come. I'm not sure about what they will do with interiors, these looked pretty much untouched with what looked like original seats. The D78's had a interior refurbishment about 10-15 years ago (which I disliked).

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you for your comment. The D78s have had a refurbishment to turn them into the Class 484. There are new features such as power and wifi. Other train operating companies have had toilets installed in them. I'll head over in Spring 2021 to do another video.

[@charliechaz1982]

@@AlexMetroman Nice one Alex I look forward to that video 👍

[@talmadge1926]

Loved travelling with these trains when they were regular rLondon Underground rolling stock in the 50s. The motors made a comforting "boing boing" elastic band sort of noise when stationary. Things were built to last back then.

[@transportenthusiasticman26]

RIP Class 483

[@paulraven-hill3774]

Excellent video. You had good weather. Couple of suggestions. One or two typos couple of captions. Possibly add location caption to each clip, as not all viewers will know the Island Line or its stations.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thanks Paul. I thought I had fixed all of the typos before uploading. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@CarlosTheVillan1874]

amused by the cat wondering round the station

[@lawrencediangana]

Just like so say to you well done for catching these before they go but as a very shame theses have finished this year that are sadly replaced by an ex d stock as class 484 once the works of the line has finished and i wish i ever went there to see these ones but sadly inever been there so anyway Great Video :)

[@AlexMetroman]

Thanks Lawrence. Hopefully you get to see them in preservation.

[@lawrencediangana]

@@AlexMetroman you welcome man your videos are better :)

[@theroyalaustralian]

Long live the 483, gone but not forgotten, you will be missed.

[@Rheilffordd]

This is some fantastic video Alex! I visited the UK from Australia in 2019, however completely missed, and now regret, not visiting the Isle of Wight to ride these units! Btw, what camera do you use? Thanks!

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! I use a Sony Handycam FDR-AX53.

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

The latest from various websites seems to be as follows: Unit 2 = Scrapped 4 = IOW Holliers Park Permanent Static Cafe 6 = Moved to a Heritage Line in Wales, unsure if it will run there or just storage 7 = IOW Steam Railway, currently static but with track access for future running 8 = Location unknown but also destined for Heritage Line in Wales - maybe for battery testing for a move in future to Epping but that last point is very much an unknown 9 = One car scrapped, another car bodywork only in workshop at Heritage East Somerset Railway

[@peteryoung4957]

Sad to see the 483's go.

[@andrewbanks2929]

I can remember the old steam services on the IoW line network in the early 50's, with ex-Metropolitan Line tank engines (1880s vintage?), slip coaches, horse-hair stuffed seats and WCs shared by two compartments on some lines. Is there any film of them, please?

[@AlexMetroman]

I was born in 1996 so I missed out on all of those trains. I'm sure you'll find some footage on KZbin or Google from someone else.

[@antman09ful1]

Sad times indeed, I was hoping they would return during 2021so I could get them on film myself, so how many of these new ex underground units are in the IOW now Alex. Great footage.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! Only one unit (484001) is on the island at the moment.

[@antman09ful1]

That's what I thought Alex. Thanks

[@leonciohernandez]

The end of and era Rip 1938 stock.

[@teescottageguyproductions]

Aww that’s sad. RIP

[@uisquebeatha]

There's nothing like old trains.

[@reimztrains2024]

Sad that the class 483 (ex 1938 tube stock) has retired 😢but the class 484 train will hopefully be good.😃😌

[@pochosousa4653]

Espero preserven bien las unidades que les queden para tren histórico o turístico. Es un recorrido hermoso y unos coches únicos. En Argentina teníamos unidades belgas "la brugoise" que cumplieron 100 años de servicio (algunos con los motores con su bobinado original) fueron retirados en el 2012 (si mal no recuerdo) y que varias formaciones de estos fueron restauradas a nuevo y forman parte del patrimonio de la asociación amigos del tranvía de buenos aires. Mi agradecimiento por este video bien detallado que servirá de historia para muchas personas en un futuro. Los saluda atentamente un argentino desde España.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! Some units will be preserved.

[@UKTransport232]

Great Video! 10:43 that doesnt sound healthy, and im wondering how the class 484s will cope with Ryde Pier, wont they also get rusty roofs etc?

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! At 10:43, that is wheelslip caused by too much power being applied on rails with low adhesion due to leaf fall. 006 had been thrashed so hard that the reason it was withdrawn in November 2020 was because of too many wheel flats! It received a bogie transfer from 008 and that's how it managed to return to service in December 2020.

[@leeosborne3793]

The 484s have aluminium bodies, so they won't rust.

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

@@leeosborne3793 Aluminium Oxydizes. www.wileymetal.com/aluminum-corrosion-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-when-it-does/

[@thestargateking]

@@ChannelReuploads9451 yes but Aluminium doesnt flake like steel or iron which makes it "rust" resistant. i put rust in brackets as it can only ever be rust if its iron oxide which will only come from iron or steel. But the main idea with rust and why its bad, is that the oxide layer then become weak and flakes off, leaving a new layer exposed and this will continue until it fails, you can do things to mitigate rusting, but eventually it will always win without there being a replacement part. Aluminium is different in this regard. the Aluminium Oxide layer doesnt flake, it then becomes a barrier to prevent further rusting, you'll just have a dulled exterior. although you do have the issue with salt obviously as that would damage the oxide layer and allow rust to continue, but protective coatings are easy.

[@MrGriser]

10:13 I think it was earlier than 2007 because I remember going on Class 483's in 2005 and they were mostly in the red livery with the diamond seats formerly used on the refurbished A stock.

[@AlexMetroman]

The information from various web sources say 2007, although that may be the date of completion.

[@MrGriser]

@@AlexMetroman You could be right.

[@Danno1983]

As an Ex islander used 2 get the Train at Sandown 2 Shanklin

[@emvvehicles_8]

Very sad to see these go, meanwhile here in Los Angeles, we’re about to have the last of our Nippon Sharyo P2020 Light Rail cars withdrawn from the Blue Line due to new cars arriving (even though there’s nothing wrong with them at all which is a waste and they just got major overhauls)

[@roboftherock]

Glasgow's Subway always 'rocked and rolled' its way around the system. The expression we used was that it 'shoogled'. That section before Lake (11'40 - 12'00) must top the Subway for 'shoogliness'! Noted your explanatory note about correcting this during the shutdown. What do you think of the notion that regular passengers will sub-conciously correct for the wobble in the new trains - thus recreating the condition?

[@cleanerben9636]

That acceleration though

[@philipbonner6486]

Sounded great didt't it

[@gusneaker]

Hi everybody. I'm watching this on January 7, 2021. When did the last train run? Are the new ones already running on the island? Greetings from Argentina! (BTW: does anyone know if there will be a set left on the island as a heritage train?)

[@AlexMetroman]

As stated in the video, the last one ran on 3rd January 2021. The line will be closed until 1st April 2021 and when it reopens the D78s shall run the service. 007 will be left on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for preservation.

[@gusneaker]

@@AlexMetroman Thank you so much. Please forgive me for not noticing it. Regards!

[@ianmcclavin]

@@gusneaker Update...the 1st April 2021 date for commencing the service with the new trains has now passed without this happening although at least one of the "new" ex-District Line trains has been on the island since December with further examples being prepared for service at Eastleigh with shipment across expected soon. Resumption of the service with the "new" stock is now anticipated in May or June this year.

[@griffinrails]

2021's off to a terrible start. Great.

[@jaymainline8841]

I agree

[@cherrygum3800]

Hey, it was their time to go, they couldn't have been rolling forever :/

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent shots 👍shame they are retiring they have done a good job on the island they want to do something about the track at 11:50 minutes into the video it looks like your on a ship rock and rolling there could easily be a derailment 🤔

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! Despite the poor track quality, there have been no derailments and the track shall be replaced between now and April 2021.

[@EonityLuna]

Kind of surprising to see that these short rural trains are operated with a driver and guard (conductor); if this was Japan, those trains would have been modified for one-man operation before entering service on the Isle of Wight. In Japan, two-person-operated trains (driver and conductor) are generally only a thing on urban commuter/metro or intercity trains (though some metro/subway systems there are converting to one-man operation), with most rural railways like this being driver-only operated. Though having a guard on board does become helpful when you have someone in a wheelchair needing to board and alight (as seen at 20:21), as the driver won't have to leave their train unattended to assist such passengers.

[@chief1b]

Sad ending

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Have they eased the clearance in ryde tunnel as the D stock is almost to mainline height ,good old 38s first to have all underfloor equipment on a tube car

[@AlexMetroman]

Apparently the D Stock can just fit into the tunnel.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Thanks for that I was wondering about clearances all the best 😊👍🏻be safe,your not Alex from CLJ are you .

[@ianmcclavin]

@@AlexMetroman Yes, I think we'll all breathe a sigh of relief when we hear of the first 484 successfully traversing Ryde Tunnel without head-butting or side-swiping anything..😁

[@BearingAwayUK]

Very sad. I had hoped to make a final trip on them last year but COVID got in the way. Riding the old D stock trains somehow doesn't hold quite the same appeal.

[@theimperialist2686]

A shame these trains will no longer be in service. Given that they are the old London Underground stock, you'd think TFL would use it as a Rail Adhesion Train like the D Stock or as a special.

[@AlexMetroman]

The London Transport Museum already have a four car 1938 Stock Train in original condition which is used for special journeys as seen in this video and a fleet of Rail Adhesion Trains consisting of 1962, D78 and 1973 Stock. The Class 483s aren't owned by TfL and are far too heavily modified to return to the London Underground and they are far too heavily corroded by the sea air to be used for anything other than preservation. I'm happy that they're being preserved elsewhere though.

[@theimperialist2686]

@@AlexMetroman Thanks for clearing that up. I already know about the one in the London Transport Musuem, it was just the other class stocks I was wondering about.

[@JaapFilius]

Awesome documentairy. Wonderful short railway line with unique trains. I was there about 8 years ago one time (daytrip during a holiday in London). I guess no one can deny that the decided modernisation is the only way for the railway to have a healthy future ahead and luckely it remains a "former London Transport island", although it will be with larger and much younger trains and improved tracks.

[@AlexMetroman]

Thank you! With a new passing loop being constructed at Brading, the service shall finally be every thirty minutes instead of twenty and forty minutes.

[@GWJUK]

What are now the oldest stock running in commercial service?

[@AlexMetroman]

I'm not sure. Of the top of my head I'd say the Class 20.

[@GWJUK]

@@AlexMetroman oh I love the Class 20, must go and look up their historical detail ta

[@darylcheshire1618]

Is that Blood and Custard livery?

[@AlexMetroman]

As stated in the video, it's London Transport red with white window pillars.

[@petersmith4455]

hi. i understand these trains are going to be used on the epping and ongar line soon,

[@AlexMetroman]

It has been confirmed now that 006 shall be.

[@bikertyp]

These sound almost like the Berlin S-Bahn trains class 477 ...same age :) 007 - No license, too ill :-P

[@andrewdavies523]

Does this now mean that the 507/508 Merseyrail stock is the oldest none steam running services in UK?

[@AlexMetroman]

Off the top of my head I'd say the Class 20.

[@josedasilva8924]

They are really fast from a stopped position

[@moskva_channel]

Class 483 will work at IOW steam railway.

[@AlexMetroman]

Yes. One shall also work at the Epping Ongar Railway.

[@harryfoley2294]

@@AlexMetroman according to the wiki 3 units are gonna be preserved

[@joelagyeman3146]

They should have a heritage day when they bring out old stock trains for people to ride

[@AlexMetroman]

Unfortunately that won't happen as they shall be leaving the Island Line for good.

[@berndbarthel6885]

Very likely that, approaching the end, maintenance has been reduced....

[@Mauscmkwk]

Will some of them be preserved

[@AlexMetroman]

As stated in the video, 006 shall go to the Epping Ongar Railway and 007 shall go to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

[@terry987654]

sad to see them go but they had to go they were no longer fit for purpose as they could not be relied upon and for that reason it cost them lots of passengers so i hope the new train can get those passengers back again.

[@BeeRich33]

When did they start the label "oldest trains in Britain"?

[@tonysteadman2533]

The Tyne and Wear metro cars are about forty years old and considered life expired. ...!

[@dodahspeak]

Hope the steam railway can operate 007 on the island line from time to time as an enthusiasts special.

[@AlexMetroman]

This would be a lovely idea, but there isn't a link from the 'main line' to the steam railway. One is being put in for the engineering work, but will most likely be removed before the line reopens.

[@dodahspeak]

@@AlexMetroman O Oh. I didn't realise that. Pitty.

[@SeverityOne]

I sees cat, I clicks like.

[@appelscha23]

Ouch, that trackbed looks really bad at places..

[@neilforbes416]

Watching those old 483's as they trundle along that track, and seeing the sparks flying off those side rails, such a method would *NEVER* be acceptable in Australia. A stray spark landing in the grass along the track can cause a nasty fire. Far better that any future system involve overhead wires on catenaries feeding pantographs on the trains.

[@AlexMetroman]

It was decided quite a while ago that all new railway lines in the UK would be electrified with OHLE, not third rail equipment. Our temperature isn't as hot as Australia so the only time we get a small lineside fire is if a steam locomotive is running during a heatwave.

[@edwardmortimer2150]

They are literally around 90 yrs old

[@AlexMetroman]

They're 83.

[@EssexWolf1993]

Now that these have been retired, does that basically mean the Class 313 is now the oldest operating train in the UK?

[@AlexMetroman]

I doubt it as the 313s were built almost forty years after the 1938TS. Taking a guess, it may be the Class 20.

[@samuelfellows6923]

Those “class 313” were my childhood trains, and I was a bit sad to see them retired ☹️, I live in Gordon Hill, Enfield, London, and my local station [gordon hill] is on the great northern line which they served - on the Hertford loop line. We now have class 717

[@bimmingham]

I think there might still be some Southern 313s around.

[@rabd9881]

Oldest multiple unit, yes

[@ianmcclavin]

@@bimmingham Yes, it's interesting that the Southern 313's are still operating to Portsmouth just across the Solent from Ryde!! Also that the 313's were the backbone of the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park/Drayton Park into Moorgate) for the last 40 years or so, and before that, 1938 Stock used to also work that line!

[@PHsRailwayVideos]

Such a shame.

[@awgkiwi]

11:40 Lol, is the track recycled too? She's rocking and a rolling, rocking and a reeling...

[@peeky44]

More down to the cheaply-built and poorly-maintained foundations than the track itself. Since the 1990s the track owner and the train operator have basically done the minimum to keep it safe rather than actually fix the problem. That's partly due to money and partly down to squabbling over who is responsible for fixing it, given the track on Island Line is leased out to the operator rather than being solely Network Rail's responsibility. The good news is that it should largely or entirely be fixed during the 3-month closure that's just started.

[@jamesharvey8654]

One of the few railway lines where the rail line junctions aren’t welded together. The old clickety clack noise.

[@McMalarky]

It's a shame

[@samuelfellows6923]

11:45 - 😣, for some reason I don’t like seeing a rocking train, think about the poor passengers and driver having to endure that 🤭 😯

[@xr6lad]

Exactly. People need to stop romanticizing this. The trains should have been thrown out over a decade ago and the track replaced. Everything has been run into the ground.

[@ianmcclavin]

@@xr6lad Yes I must admit travelling between Shanklin and Sandown via Lake in the last couple of years had provided a few "heart stopping" moments for me especially at one particular track joint near Lake running northbound!!

[@xr6lad]

Thank God. People need to stop romanticizing this. It was a train in a cr*p condition run into the ground, unreliable, faded, bad ride and run by an operator that treated its customers with contempt.